If you’ve watched the Oilers play early this season than you know that the Rookies are the ones that create the excitement and give the team a chance to win. They will only get better and to be honest their already great. Three of the top 5 point producers on the Oilers are rookies and the top 3 players in plus/minus are all rookies. Its pretty tough to argue with those stats but I know some will say that its only because the Oilers veteran players are playing so bad. That may be true but considering that Andrew Cogliano is on pace for 70 points, Kyle Brodziak for 68 points, Sam Gagner 54 points, and Tom Gilbert is on pace for a plus 35 on defence. Now consider that last year Ales Hemsky led the team with 53 points and Daniel Tjarnqvist led the defence with a plus 3. Also consider that these 4 rookies are ranked in the top 12 in the TSN player rankings. Who knows, an Oiler may bring home the Calder this season

These are just 4 of the Oiler prospects, waiting in the wings right now are players like Ladislav Smid, Robbie Shremp, Robert Nilson, Jf Jacque, Marc-Antoine Pouliot, and Denis Grebeshkov. Couple with that young players that the Oil will have for years to come like Jarret Stoll (25), Joni Pitkanen (24), Ales Hemsky (24), Dustin Penner (25), and Matt Greene (24). If the Oilers can re-sign the restricted free agents Stoll and Pitkanen before the end of the season they could be a very powerful team next year and for years to come.

The Voice

The Voice Rookies