Players Whose Rookie Years Were Their Best

[NVious]

With Kapanen being waived recently, it got me thinking about players who peaked their rookie year. Kap had 20 goals and 44 points, he never hit 20 goals or 40 points in his 6 years since. Andreas Johnsson who was a linemate had similar stats with 20 goals and 43 points, he was out of the league 5 years later.

Nail Yakupov is another obvious one, who else?

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[Toby91ca]

Selanne is probably the most obvious.

 

[Voight]

Steve Mason. 2nd in Vezina voting, 4th in Hart.

Had only one other season where received Vezina votes (finished 7th in voting)

 

[thekernel]

Cam Ward had some good years, but none of them really top a Conn Smythe.

Similarly, Matt Murray and Jordan Binnington could never seem to replicate the success of their Cup-winning runs

 

[KevinRedkey]

Barzal peaked in points as a rookie

Matt Murray won 2 cups as a rookie

Jim Carey won the Vezina

 

[wolfgaze]

Petr Prucha put up 30 goals in 68 games during his rookie season:

Petr Prucha Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of Petr Prucha, a hockey player from Chrudim, Czech Rep. born Sep 14 1982 who was active from 2001 to 2013.

www.hockeydb.com

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

If I'm not mistaken both Tyler Myers and Rasmus Ristolainen did.

Tyler Myers rookie season made me think he'd be an absolute beast in the league once he figured everything out and out it together.

From his rookie season he just lost more pieces rather rather connect them.

 

[tmg]

Joé Juneau is a huge one. 102 point rookie year. Traded part way through his 85 point sophomore season. Never even hit 65 after that.

 

[Goose]

Matthews first game will probably go down as the best of his career. Hard to top that, though damn I wish he had of managed to score in OT, that would have taken it to another level.

 

[Bard Marchand]

Steve Mason. 2nd in Vezina voting, 4th in Hart.

Had only one other season where received Vezina votes (finished 7th in voting)

Also he had 10 shutouts, actually insane for a rookie goalie.

If I'm not mistaken both Tyler Myers and Rasmus Ristolainen did.

Tyler Myers rookie season made me think he'd be an absolute beast in the league once he figured everything out and out it together.

From his rookie season he just lost more pieces rather rather connect them.

What's up with Tyler Myers? I only know his career through stats, don't follow any of his teams. Why did he never put it together?

 

[Golden_Jet]

Alexandre Daigle had 51 points as 18 year old.
But managed 51 twice more in his career,
Not the sure the ruling on a tie.

 

[red devil]

Matthew Barzal got 85 points in his rookie season and has topped 62 until last year where he got 80.

 

[Javaman]

What's up with Tyler Myers? I only know his career through stats, don't follow any of his teams. Why did he never put it together?

His current nickname amongst the Canuckerati is "Chaos Giraffe."

That really ought to tell you all you need to know.

He's best used as a 3rd pairing defenseman who is effective at killing penalties. He may give you more, but it would be foolish to expect more.

 

[bov]

Jeannot so far, hope he finds it again.

 

[Koivu11]

Andrew Raycroft

 

[Bender Duster]

Patrik Laine has entered the chat.

 

[Romang67]

Yakupov had 17 goals and 31 points in 48 games in his rookie year. He looked like a halfway decent 1st overall that year.

Then the rest of his career happened.

 

[SeanVT395]

In 2010 Ville Leino scored 21 points in 19 playoff games as a 25 year old rookie, which is tied with Cicarelli for most in NHL history.

IIRC flyers traded for him around the deadline and he amazing chemistry with Hartnell and Briere. Had a decent season the next year and then fell off a cliff after signing in Buffalo

 

[ViD]

Bedard

 

[jigglysquishy]

Selanne is probably the most obvious.

His 1999 season was better.

1993 scoring was so high for everyone, but I do prefer his play in 1997, 1998, and 1999.

 

[Fantomas]

Will Butcher looked like a steal in his rookie year (44 points as a rookie defenseman), but it turned out that he was just in the right place at the right time and came back down to earth. No longer in the league.

 

[centipede2233]

Sergei makarov, won the Calder with 86 pts and a +33, never topped those stats again

 

[Fantomas]

Sergei makarov, won the Calder with 86 pts and a +33, never topped those stats again

Debatable. He had more goals in two other seasons.

 

[jetsforever]

Paul Stastny?

 

[mobilus]

Also he had 10 shutouts, actually insane for a rookie goalie.

Tony Esposito had 15 shutouts his rookie year.